Friday, January 9, 2009

padang-bukit tinggi, sumatera

Puncak Kiambang, Padang Pariaman.

I can’t deny it, I still have butterflies in my stomach every time I fly. But it will soon be evaporate as I glimpse the land and the beautiful clouds. I love the feeling like this; when you know something is awaiting you. Like when you’re traveling.

We just spent 4 exciting days in Padang, Indonesia. It only took 1 hour or less from KL to Padang. dekat..sebelah2 melaka saja.. Our travel guide cum driver, Pak Johan was very helpful and for this tour; 2 nights at Bukit Tinggi and 1 night at Padang (the main town). Bukit Tinggi was just about 2 hours from the main city, BUT we had trapped in their new year’s celebration which caused a MACET TOTAL; as they called it.. I saw the notice with the word macet total at the hotel’s lobby. We stayed at Grand Malindo hotel for Bukit Tinggi, and Pangeran City hotel for Padang city. You may want to upgrade for Ambacang or The Hills if you have much budget.

The grass was greener here ( I’m not talking about the idiom, anyway ) and my first impression of Padang was..eh, macam kat Negeri Sembilan!..yeah..their accent and even the music played in the air..serius macam berada di bus station Kuala Pilah.. yelah, Minang kan..dan ada juga yang bertanya tentang the late Tuanku Jaafar.

mak, sister and I at their famous tower clock - Jam Gadang

Jam Gadang; The structure was build in 1926 during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from the Queen to city's controleur

ok, now I'm much more interested to zoom in the clock, then tell me what's the mistake you can distinguish?

the number 4

Minangkabau

The famous Pagar Ruyung palace was burnt few months before, (tapi surau dia selamat) so we went to next Istana Lindungan Bulan.

Have you ever wonder why their houses roof designed in such a way? Once upon a time, there was a buffalo fight (buffalo the animal, not the verb meaning; bully) by this two authorities; Minang and Jawa. Before they have had agreed with the event, the Jawa wanted the problem be settle by funds. But the Minang tak mahu tapi ganti dengan anak kerbau dan pasang pisau kat atas tanduk. Wah! Kejam!! You see, anak mesti akan menyusu kat ibu kan..then, habis la..kalah la si Jawa..ouh ya, you will notice that the cars from Padang / Sumatera with plat number BA ( A for Akal), while those from Jawa (Bandung or Jakarta) with BK (K for Kira-Kira)..hmm..ntah betul ke tak Pak Johan nih..

Mereka memakai atap zink, kerana percaya bahawa hidup di bawah tanah adalah sekali sahaja..so, they won’t use the genting-roof. And this place once famous with 'kota serambi Mekah'.. I didn't get when Pak Johan explained us about it ( maybe I was busy snapping ) but we noticed masjid/surau in every 200 meters..banyak..takda masalah nak berhenti mana2.

In every house, there will be no room for their son, anak teruna kena tidur di masjid/surau..

sebuah masjid lama

Ngarai Sianok ( Sianok Canyon)

We were lucky because the hotel (@Bukit Tinggi) was just about few meters from their Wisata Alam (tourist attraction). The weather was fine and the wind blew just very nice..it was a spectacular look from here.

Jangan tak tahu kat bawah tuh sebenarnya adalah bekas Lubang Jepun. Old Japanese were really bad guys..adaka patut pekerja binaan, of couse the local.. killed after their hard work..isk..it was 1946.. but the place was found around '80s.

local tourists

Somehow I think this tunnel lagi canggih dari yang kat Beijing tu

Fort de Knock - just a walk from the previous place.

Bukit Tinggi, from above a bridge..on the way to a museum

On the way from Bukit Tinggi to Padang (main town) we stopped at Hajah Rosma's place.. the place known as akademi tempat sulaman. But she was not around, they were having their kuliah asar at the surau next to this place.

The last day, Pak Johan took us around Padang town..but not so much to visit. We spent some for kerepek2 la and other souvenirs..just like other tourists did.. and of course I bought freezer magnetic, for my collection :P

jambatan Siti Nurbaya

There was a story behind this bridge but I'm not very interested to share..because it wasn't something we want to proud of..hmm, bukan pejuang negara..like we have; Shamsiah Fakeh ke Tun Fatimah etc..

Singkarak Lake

It was truly a regret that we had missed Lake Maninjau because of the raining, and batu Malin Kundang at Pantai Manis. From my personal view, it was just a myth / local story because if anybody want to claim it as a real story, we still have it in different versions; Malin Kundang (Indonesia), Si Tanggang (Malaysia) and Nakhoda Manis (Brunei).. Nevertheless, it was unformal education, I suppose.

from google; maybe it just a coincidence but..still freak me out!

It was a great time for us, I was happy, and most of all my mum was happy too..and even said that she want to be here again, but Jogja maybe?..hehe.. Before I end, I just want to say that Padang is actually a nice place to visit, but maybe the local just not very aware or appreciate of what they have..few places not well maintain, littering happens everywhere. They should know that they have amazing place with history (or myth, I dont care) and so much to share. The history helped them to change their lives, for the better (quote from History channel sbenarnya :P )

Friday, January 9, 2009

I can’t deny it, I still have butterflies in my stomach every time I fly. But it will soon be evaporate as I glimpse the land and the beautiful clouds. I love the feeling like this; when you know something is awaiting you. Like when you’re traveling.

We just spent 4 exciting days in Padang, Indonesia. It only took 1 hour or less from KL to Padang. dekat..sebelah2 melaka saja.. Our travel guide cum driver, Pak Johan was very helpful and for this tour; 2 nights at Bukit Tinggi and 1 night at Padang (the main town). Bukit Tinggi was just about 2 hours from the main city, BUT we had trapped in their new year’s celebration which caused a MACET TOTAL; as they called it.. I saw the notice with the word macet total at the hotel’s lobby. We stayed at Grand Malindo hotel for Bukit Tinggi, and Pangeran City hotel for Padang city. You may want to upgrade for Ambacang or The Hills if you have much budget.

The grass was greener here ( I’m not talking about the idiom, anyway ) and my first impression of Padang was..eh, macam kat Negeri Sembilan!..yeah..their accent and even the music played in the air..serius macam berada di bus station Kuala Pilah.. yelah, Minang kan..dan ada juga yang bertanya tentang the late Tuanku Jaafar.

mak, sister and I at their famous tower clock - Jam Gadang

Jam Gadang; The structure was build in 1926 during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from the Queen to city's controleur

ok, now I'm much more interested to zoom in the clock, then tell me what's the mistake you can distinguish?

the number 4

Minangkabau

The famous Pagar Ruyung palace was burnt few months before, (tapi surau dia selamat) so we went to next Istana Lindungan Bulan.

Have you ever wonder why their houses roof designed in such a way? Once upon a time, there was a buffalo fight (buffalo the animal, not the verb meaning; bully) by this two authorities; Minang and Jawa. Before they have had agreed with the event, the Jawa wanted the problem be settle by funds. But the Minang tak mahu tapi ganti dengan anak kerbau dan pasang pisau kat atas tanduk. Wah! Kejam!! You see, anak mesti akan menyusu kat ibu kan..then, habis la..kalah la si Jawa..ouh ya, you will notice that the cars from Padang / Sumatera with plat number BA ( A for Akal), while those from Jawa (Bandung or Jakarta) with BK (K for Kira-Kira)..hmm..ntah betul ke tak Pak Johan nih..

Mereka memakai atap zink, kerana percaya bahawa hidup di bawah tanah adalah sekali sahaja..so, they won’t use the genting-roof. And this place once famous with 'kota serambi Mekah'.. I didn't get when Pak Johan explained us about it ( maybe I was busy snapping ) but we noticed masjid/surau in every 200 meters..banyak..takda masalah nak berhenti mana2.

In every house, there will be no room for their son, anak teruna kena tidur di masjid/surau..

sebuah masjid lama

Ngarai Sianok ( Sianok Canyon)

We were lucky because the hotel (@Bukit Tinggi) was just about few meters from their Wisata Alam (tourist attraction). The weather was fine and the wind blew just very nice..it was a spectacular look from here.

Jangan tak tahu kat bawah tuh sebenarnya adalah bekas Lubang Jepun. Old Japanese were really bad guys..adaka patut pekerja binaan, of couse the local.. killed after their hard work..isk..it was 1946.. but the place was found around '80s.

local tourists

Somehow I think this tunnel lagi canggih dari yang kat Beijing tu

Fort de Knock - just a walk from the previous place.

Bukit Tinggi, from above a bridge..on the way to a museum

On the way from Bukit Tinggi to Padang (main town) we stopped at Hajah Rosma's place.. the place known as akademi tempat sulaman. But she was not around, they were having their kuliah asar at the surau next to this place.

The last day, Pak Johan took us around Padang town..but not so much to visit. We spent some for kerepek2 la and other souvenirs..just like other tourists did.. and of course I bought freezer magnetic, for my collection :P

jambatan Siti Nurbaya

There was a story behind this bridge but I'm not very interested to share..because it wasn't something we want to proud of..hmm, bukan pejuang negara..like we have; Shamsiah Fakeh ke Tun Fatimah etc..

Singkarak Lake

It was truly a regret that we had missed Lake Maninjau because of the raining, and batu Malin Kundang at Pantai Manis. From my personal view, it was just a myth / local story because if anybody want to claim it as a real story, we still have it in different versions; Malin Kundang (Indonesia), Si Tanggang (Malaysia) and Nakhoda Manis (Brunei).. Nevertheless, it was unformal education, I suppose.

from google; maybe it just a coincidence but..still freak me out!

It was a great time for us, I was happy, and most of all my mum was happy too..and even said that she want to be here again, but Jogja maybe?..hehe.. Before I end, I just want to say that Padang is actually a nice place to visit, but maybe the local just not very aware or appreciate of what they have..few places not well maintain, littering happens everywhere. They should know that they have amazing place with history (or myth, I dont care) and so much to share. The history helped them to change their lives, for the better (quote from History channel sbenarnya :P )